Brendan Rodgers Discussion Thread

From not wanting him, I'm pretty ok about it now. We're definitely playing some better attacking football and I do notice a bit of a difference from the Ange approach..defence is still a tad orf and we've got dodgy VAR to contend with for the whole season now...but apart from that I wish him well (future transfers withstanding!)

 

Brendan Rodgers says he's given every Celticplayer a clean slate to earn spots in his team - namely Liam Scales, Tomoki Iwata and Alexandro Bernabei.

The returning boss hasn't had his injury troubles to seek in his first pre-season back. He's had to do without Cameron Carter-Vickers, Carl Starfelt, Alistair Johnston and Anthony Ralston at one stage or another but thankfully has close to a full compliment to choose from ahead of the season starting against Ross County this Saturday.


Rodger’s though looks on the bright side and reckons his threadbare defensive options have given him the chance to look at some players who might have otherwise not had a look in. When asked about the defensive injury situation, he said: "Cam has been an outstanding centre-half and with Tony and Ali being out, that's where the injuries have been really in that area of the field.


But it's given me a chance to see some players like Liam Scales, who I hadn't seen a great deal of. I've had a good chance to see him over the last four to five weeks.

"Tomo (Iwata) as well, playing at right-back. He was brought in as a midfielder but he's played centre-half and has shown he can play at right-back as well. That's what pre-season is about, gaining your fitness and finding opportunities to experiment."

The boss was then asked about Alexandro Bernabei who has laid down a marker for a starting spot with a number of eye-catching pre-season performances - chiefly against Athletic Club where he hit the back of the net. "I've obviously spoken with a lot of the players," he said. "Alexandro is a player I've been able to connect with and find out a little bit more about.



He's really good going forward but knows he has to work defensively in that aspect of the game. We have a number of players who haven't had a lot of game time and that's where the slate is clean for them. A number of those guys have showed up really well in pre-season. I'll judge players on merit and what they produce in pre-season instead of what they did before

 

Everything Brendan Rodgers had to say in his pre-match press conference ahead of Celtic'sopening game of the season against Ross County...

How are you feeling ahead of the first game?

I am really looking forward to it. Lots to assess and lots to admire of the work the players have put in during pre-season and by the club and the staff. You are preparing for what matters and that starts on Saturday so we are looking forward to it.

How do you feel about returning to the dugout for a competitive fixture?

I feel excited and I am really looking forward to it. We obviously had a really good night for James' [Forrest's] testimonial game. The club were ever so kind and gave us a really great reception. My focus is on preparing the team, but just driving up to the stadium and seeing all the supporters at the weekend for flag day, which commemorates all the great work the players and staff did last season, is great. It is also a symbol of what we are fighting for to try and win it again so it gives us great motivation and it is something to look forward to.

How confident are you that the squad can improve on last season?

I think the standards have been set over many years. That is the standard of Celtic, it is not just one season, it has probably been done in the last five or 10 years. Celtic as a club has high expectations and high standards are always set by any manager who comes into the club. It is what you embrace and what you look forward to. For me, I understand what the standards are and that was one of the big reasons for coming back here to try and continue and develop those standards. We have a fantastic group of players that are still very much in the learning phase of their development and I have really enjoyed working with them so far.




Is the squad where you want it to be?

Yeah, I think it was key for me to come in and assess things and give it time. There are clear positions that are priorities for us that we would like to improve on but I think the team and the squad were already in a really good position. I needed to assess the group over a period of time and I think over the course, we will look to improve the squad further. I think the best time to do that is when you have had success, as that success is a moving target. I think the challenges this year will be even greater so we have to make sure we can match those.

What areas have you identified for improvement?

I sit here with the knowledge of having won a treble twice, so I understand the pitfalls of that success. In order to have longevity, there are certain elements that you have to ensure are in place. That is something we have spoken about during pre-season. At Celtic, it is all about winning and doing so in the best way you possibly can. That is sometimes harder. When we did the treble the second time, we did not amass the same amount of points, our game was maybe not at the same level. What we did do was turn up in the big games, and we did what we needed to do and that will be the idea again this season, to win a number of trophies and do so well.

How important is it to be flexible in your play?

There is no right or wrong way. Throughout my career, I have always had a philosophy of how I want my teams to play. In terms of style and philosophy, that is always the same in terms of imposing yourself on the game and being really aggressive in the pressing, dominating on the pitch and creating opportunities. That style is always the same but what I have tended to do is move in and out of systems and have that flexibility. I like my players to do that. Ange [Postecoglou] did a great job over his two seasons here and he will do well in the Premier League. For me, it was about coming in, assessing different phases of the game and looking to add something new for opponents to think about.

Injury update?

Both Cameron Carter-Vickers and Anthony Ralston came through the game midweek which was great news for us. We have another day to go but they are back with the squad. They probably aren't up to speed like some of the other boys are but they still look in really good condition; apart from that it is still the guys who have been out for a period of time and are a little bit far off. Hopefully, over the course of the next few weeks, some more will return.

You obviously coached against Maik Nawrocki before, are there any other targets you have seen before and is that now part of your transfer strategy?

Obviously, the recruitment team will have a shortlist of players for each position and it is very well structured here and very well thought out. The planning goes in so in the eventuality of a player moving on, sometimes unexpectedly, someone can come in and fit to make sure the model of the club works. With Maik, it just so happens to be that he was a player that played for Legia Warsaw against me at Leicester and he did very well in the game. He has done consistently well for a period of time and I think this is a really nice step for him to come in and be a part of this squad and hopefully he can push on with his career.

Thoughts on VAR in Scotland?

I think with anything you have to give it time. I said when I was first up here that it was a really good idea to bring it in, so I am happy it was in. You are always going to have errors, it is about mitigating that as much as you can. The guys did a really good presentation to myself and the players this afternoon, so like I said they will have learnt from last year and some of the issues that are around it. It is the same in England, it does not run smoothly. It is about trying to mitigate as many of those wrong decisions as possible.

 

Ok that's it I'm hooked again!

 

I like how he's buttering up VAR. Pretending he wants it so they finally call a penalty against sevcos 11th clear handball

 

It's not the be all and end all but I still feel for Iwata with the clean slate comments then he's * in at right back. He had supposedly played there and cb before with let's call it mixed results but still want to see him get a run of games in midfield.
What a *,unimaginative question the one about having had Nawrocki play against him before, we're no the huns fs.

 

I get it. But see when the stadium guy reads out the teams across the loudspeaker and then gives it 'boys and girls please welcome back to Celtic park...... Brendaaaaaaaan Rodgerrrrrrrs' how many fans will have their own wee show of protest be it it not clapping,booing or sitting down?

Personally I won't be clapping. But I hope to * he does the business.

 

He got a very good reception against Athletic Bilbao. I know that people who haven't forgiven him are less likely to have gone to that friendly, but it does at least indicate that there's plenty who are getting behind him.

 

Don't get the booing. There's an element of grow up for me.

 

Any * booing needs to give their head an absolute wobble.

In fact, any * wanting to do their own wee personal protest at the game is an utter * bam.

 

GTF..

 

That's the one thing that has surprised me. I knew he was a bullshitter and let's be honest, there's been a bit of that again already. I knew he was an outstanding coach so no surprises there. What has surprised me is that it genuinely did take balls to come back. Listen to his early interviews, he was nervous. Fair play to him on that. I didn't think he had that in him.

Look, he doesn't have to apologise for being a bullshitter. IMHO, there's an element of "shame on me if you fool me twice" when it comes to that and anyone that gets upset that some of what he says isn't really true this second time around has no right to be angry at anyone but themselves.

He DOES have a lot to do to make up for leaving us mid-season, but isn't that why he's here? Let's give him the chance to do that: to make up for it.
I know some people will say he's come for the money; but unless DD is giving him silly money under the table that we don't know about, that doesn't seem right to me. When the likes of Nuno Espirito Santo and Steven Gerrard have got managerial gigs in Saudi Arabia, I'm sure Rodgers could get a piece of that too.
I also don't doubt he could get another EPL job if he wanted. For example, you have to imagine that at some point, one of the big clubs is going to fancy taking De Zerbi from Brighton, Rodgers would be a good fit for Brighton. His coaching strengths would suit what they are doing and their recruitment structure would give him the recruitment discipline he needs.

When Ange first left, my first choice by a mile was Potter (although I knew we'd be unlikely to get him). Sure enough, he wasn't remotely interested in coming here. Yet here we are with a manager of the same calibre as Potter! This is a really good appointment. Arguably the best appointment we had a realistic chance of making. And if he wants the chance to redeem himself, let's give it to him and see what he does. At worst, he * off again and we get an elite level coach for a couple of years and at best he really does redeem himself and become a legend here (or most likely somewhere in between).

TL;DR:

Rodgers is Rodgers, don't invest your emotions in what he says in interviews but in what he does on the training pitch.
It really did take balls to come back.
If he wants to redeem himself, he deserves the chance to do so.
I can't think of a better coach we had a realistic chance of getting.

 

I would say that applies to just about any manager. Still I still feel the old heart thumping when he speaks about doing the treble again Ye can't help it really because it's what you want to hear your manager say with some conviction and he's so good at that I'm sunk I believe in him in so far as I believe he will go on and do another 3 trebles before he leaves us